Cristiano Ronaldo profile and biography

Cristiano Ronaldo profileName: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Birth date: February 5, 1985
Birthplace: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Height: 186.5 cm
Playing position: Left/right winger, striker
First club: Sporting Lisbon
Career debut: 1999 vs Moreirense
Current club: Real Madrid
International team: Portugal
Int’l debut: August 20, 2003 vs KazakhstanCristiano Ronaldo biography
Ronaldo started playing competitive football for amateur club
Andorinha when he was just eight years old, and then for local team CD
Nacional when he was 10. He moved to Sporting CP, one of Portugal’s
largest football clubs in 1996.
Ronaldo trained in the youth team before making his senior debut in
1999 against Moreirense in which he scored a brace. He made his
European debut in a Champions League qualifier against Inter.
Ronaldo first gained international attention when he played for Portugal’s youth team in UEFA U-17 Championships.
Liverpool, under manager Gérard Houllier back then, was reported to
have interest in signing Ronaldo. It was also revealed later that
Arsenal was closed to signing him before his move to Manchester Utd in
2003.
Ronaldo’s signature came after Sporting defeated United 3–1 in a
pre-season friendly. The United players spoke enthusiastically about
the winger on their way home, and suggested manager Alex Ferguson to
sign the player up, which he did for a price of £12.24 million.
Ronaldo made a memorable debut for United as a substitute against
Bolton; his 30 minutes performances created hype with United fans and
the English media with his dazzling dribbles. He scored his first goal
for the club with a free kick in a 3–0 win over Portsmouth in November.
Despite promising starts, his first two seasons at the club received
mixed reviews. He’s being praised for his technique and skill, but
often criticised for lack of consistency and poor decision making on the
field.
Ronaldo made his senior debut for Portugal shortly after being signed
by United in a match against Kazakhstan in August 2003. A controversy
broke out in World Cup 2006 where Ronaldo was alleged to influence the
referee to send off his United team mate and England striker Wayne
Rooney in their quarter finals clash.
Ronaldo was being used as the scapegoat for England’s defeat in the
World Cup and the hatred towards him had prompted his intention to leave
England and United. In the end United managed to keep him, and Ronaldo
had a great season in the Premiership against all odds.
Ronaldo won both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year Award in
2007; he’s also voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’
Association; and was the top 3 finalists for both the FIFA World Player
of the Year and European Player of the Year awards in 2007.
Ronaldo continued his fine form in the 2007/2008 season, netted in 42
goals in all competition (31 in Premier League), and was again voted as
the PFA Player of The Year and Football Writers’ Footballer of the
Year.
His performance contributed to United’s double for the season;
winning the Premiership in succession as well as bringing home the UEFA
Champions League trophy, in which he scored a goal in the final.
Ronaldo was crowned as both the FIFA World Player of the Year and European Player of the Year in 2008.
Ronaldo scored 26 goals in the 2008/09 season, helping United to
another Premiership title, and again reached the final of the Champions
League in which they lost to Barcelona.
Ronaldo became the world’s most expensive football player following
his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in July 2009 in a £80
million transfer. He was welcome by 80,000 fans in the Santiago
Bernabéu stadium during his official presentation.
Ronaldo’s Real Madrid career started well and was in untouchable form
until his injury in October. He recovered his form soon after and
scored 33 goals in his first season for Real, but couldn’t help the club
to win any trophies.
Ronaldo captained his national team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but they were eliminated at last 16.
Ronaldo broke the La Liga single-season scoring record by netting 40
league goals in 2010/2011. He helped Real to clinch the Copa Del Rey.